Reporting Student Absence

When students who have been absent return to school, they shall present a satisfactory explanation verifying the

reason for the absence within three (3) days of return to school. Absences shall be verified by the student’s

parent/guardian, other person having control of the minor, or if the student is age 18 or older.

* Written note from parent/guardian, parent representative, or if the student is 18 or older.

* Conversation, in person or by telephone, between the verifying employee and the student’s parent/guardian, parent representative, or if student is 18 or older. The employee shall subsequently record the following:

1. Name of student

2. Name of parent/guardian or parent representative

3. Name of verifying employee

4. Date(s) of absence

5. Reason for absence

* Visit to the student’s home by the verifying employee, or any other reasonable method which establishes the fact that the student was absent for the reasons stated.

* Physician’s Verification:

1. When excusing students for confidential medical services or verifying such appointments, district staff shall not ask the purpose of such appointments but may contact the medical office to confirm the time of the appointment.

2. When a student has had 14 absences in the school year for illness verified by methods listed above, any further absences for illness must be verified by a physician.

* Make-up work is required for excused absences

* Make-up work for unexcused absences is at teacher’s discretion.

Excused Absences – EC 46014 and 48205

Students, with the written consent of their parents or guardians, may be excused from school in order to participate in religious exercises or to receive moral or religious instruction.

A student absent from school for excused reasons shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit. The teacher of the class from which a student is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the student missed during the absence.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 48200, a student shall be excused from school when the absence is:

(1) Due to his or her illness.

(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.

(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of his or her immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the student is the custodial parent.

(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization when the student's absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.

(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.

(9) For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil's immediate family, who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in EC § 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.

(b) A student absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence

that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefore. The teacher of the class from which a student is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the student missed during the absence.

(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.

(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.

(e) "Immediate family," as used in this section, has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 45194, except that references therein to "employee" shall be deemed to be references to "student."

Unexcused Absences for more than ten (10) consecutive days may cause disenrollment

Vacation and business trips are unexcused

Tardiness

Children should be encouraged to be prompt as part of their training. They are expected to be at school on time. If a child is late, the child should bring an excuse from home to the school office. Frequent tardiness without a valid excuse may be considered truancy under state law.

Releasing Students

No student is allowed to leave school during the school day without the written permission of the parent or other authorized adult and the principal. Students will be released only to those adults authorized by you on your child’s Emergency Card. Thus, it is very important that these cards be kept current.

Please note that a parent with a court order prohibiting the other parent from seeing the student must have a copy of that court order on file in the principal’s office. We are unable to prevent a parent from seeing a student without the court order on file.

Sample absence note:

For your convenience, the form below has been provided to assist you in writing notes to excuse your child’s absence. You may make photocopies or you can ask for additional sheets in the office.

(Illness, medical, dental or optometry appointment, funeral of immediate family member, one day inside California, three days outside California). Personal/family business, vacations and trips will not be excused.

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